AUTOMOTIVE GENERAL MANAGER.

Principal Connections has been retained by a leading provider of specialist services to appoint an Automotive General Manager. Operating within a fast-paced and growing environment, the business provides a broad range of vehicle preparation, modification, repair and associated technical services to customers across the automotive sector.

The operation focuses primarily across three principal service areas – pre-delivery inspection and vehicle preparation, commercial vehicle fit-out and conversion, and body repair., with this workshop being part of a larger, well-established group entity. With increasing customer demand and continued growth creating significant opportunity, the business is seeking an accomplished operational leader to lead the next phase of development and performance.

The Position

The Automotive Workshop General Manager will assume overall responsibility for the leadership, operational performance and continuous improvement of a substantial, multi-disciplinary automotive workshop. Leading through five direct-report supervisors and their respective teams, the successful candidate will provide visible leadership on the workshop floor, ensuring the effective deployment of people and resources while maintaining consistently high standards of quality, safety, productivity and customer delivery.

A central priority will be the continued lean optimisation of an increasingly busy facility. The appointee will assess existing workflows, workshop layout, equipment, tooling and supporting processes, identifying practical opportunities to eliminate inefficiency and improve throughput. They will champion Lean principles and structured continuous improvement, while overseeing workshop planning, regulatory compliance, vehicle sign-off, vendor and supplier relationships and the successful introduction and standardisation of new processes and workstreams.

Requirements

Candidates will ideally hold an Engineering qualification, with significant operational leadership experience gained within a complex workshop, engineering, manufacturing, vehicle modification, fleet or similarly demanding technical environment. Direct automotive experience is advantageous but is not essential. Of greater importance is demonstrable experience of leading sizeable technical teams, coupled with strong commercial judgement and business acumen and the ability to understand operational processes at workshop-floor level.

The successful candidate will bring a strong practical understanding of Lean principles, workflow optimisation, standardised working practices and root-cause problem solving, with evidence of successfully leading people through operational change and continuous improvement. Strong people leadership, communication and stakeholder management capabilities are essential, together with the ability to engage teams, build support for change and embed a culture of practical continuous improvement. Experience managing suppliers or vendors and the credibility to work effectively with technical specialists, customers and relevant regulatory bodies will also be important. To Apply

To apply, please submit a comprehensive Curriculum Vitae via the available Apply option, in strictest confidence, for the attention of Mark Middleton, Partner at Principal Connections – executive search, on or before Friday 23rd October at 12 noon.

For a confidential discussion, please contact Principal Connections – executive search in strictest confidence.

PLEASE NOTE

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Principal Connections has been retained as the exclusive executive search partner to manage this important appointment process and is acting as an employment agency on behalf of our client.

• Our client is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.

• Candidates for this appointment will be identified through a combination of advertised selection and targeted executive search activities.

• Only applications submitted via the designated online application channels (or, where applicable, through the email address provided within a print advertisement, briefing prospectus, job description etc.) will be considered as part of the formal selection process.

• Please note that any offer of employment will be subject to satisfactory reference checks together with any additional background screening, verification procedures, or assessments considered appropriate to the appointment process.

• By applying for this vacancy through Principal Connections, you acknowledge and accept our Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Cookies Policy, all of which are available on our website .

ABOUT PRINCIPAL CONNECTIONS

Principal Connections is a leading executive search and leadership consulting firm serving organisations across Ireland, the United Kingdom and internationally. We are also part of Agilium Worldwide LLC (Est. 1984), independently ranked one of the world’s top global executive search groups. (55+ offices, 30+ countries, 250+ consultants).

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